le roy



` J. A. LE ROY.

HLM ADVANCLNG MEAN&

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5,1913.

Pnteted' July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET J; Ai LE ROY.

FILM ADVANCING MEANS. APPLIcAT|N--`mEDV JuLY'S. 191e. i 1,3 11,238.,` Patented July 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Z3 54 337% l v Z@ J4' t INVENTOR f3 fell/z ./'efaj/ B L 33 5| 32 .ATTORNEY UNITED STATES ra Eric.

JEAN A'. LE noir, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

FILM-ADVANCING MEANS.

To all whom t may 0071067171.:

Be it known that I, JEAN A. LE

mechanism for apparatus employing a perforated strip of material, for example, such as the -film's employed in motion-picture apparatus, including cameras, printers and projectors; and wherein a continuous rotation of a primary actuating member is* converted into an intermittent feed of the said film before an aperture in the machine. Hereto'for'e, various intermittently moving members, actuated from the continuously or intermittently rotating primary member, have beenemployed to attain this intermit;

- tent feeding of the film, such as-the'Geneva movement, cani and pin-cross and cam, to intermittently rotate a sprocket or drum, the snail and pin movement, reciprocating grip devices or claw movements, beatermovements embodying an eccentrically controlled cam and locking erable noise, and .more or less indirectly,

'whereas the herein disclosed mechanism is simple in construction and'positive andy satisfactory in its action.

The present invention contemplates thedirect engagement of the film byv a continu` ously rotating member, having film engaging means thereon, and so constructed that the said means are caused to enter and leave the perforations of the film in a positive,

smooth,.steady and rapid manner without any tendency to tear. The size, number and degree of separation of the film-engaging means maybe so'designed and selected as to the latter. sults from this improved feeding action,

accommodate the various sizes, styles of erforation of the film and velocities of fee of No back lash, furthermore, re-

whicli is, moreover, accomplished in a noiseless manner and with a minimum of moving parts, lbeing also reversible to run the film Ibackwardly or to accommodate certain types ROY a. citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York city, in the county ofv New" embodying the star wheel and Y Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 29, 1919, Application filed July 5, 1918. Serial No. 243,443.

of films having laterally disposed series of exposures.

The nature of theinvention with be best understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- '4 Figure 1 is a front elevation of the face plate or film supporting member of a motion picture apparatus, as one embodiment of the invention, Vsaid figure' showing, also, the film gate or plate and the actuating handle for the mechanism. Fig. 2 `is a vertical -section taken `on the line'2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear View of one form of gate with tension shoe, which may be employed.

' Fig. l is an end view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a side4 view,.partly in section, illustrating a modified construction of shoe and gate.

Fig. 6 is a rear view, illustrating a furl ther modification of shoe and gate.

Fig. -7 is a transverse section'on an enlar ed scale, taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 2, loo ing in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 8 to 1l are fragmentary views illustrating the action of the film moving mechanism.

Fig. 12 is an end view of a modified form of the film-en aging element; and Fig. 13 is a front 'view i lustrating a further modification ofsame. l

Fig. 14 is a cross section showing a specific form of tooth which may be used.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, '2O designates the face plate of the head of a motion picture machine, the same being provided with a suitable aperture 2l and4 guide strips or tracks 22. running longitudinally thereof. Upon the tracks 22 is arranged to slide an apertured shoe plate or removable 'gate 23, the same being retained in position to register its aperture 24 with the aperture 21 by means' of guide strips25, and limited by a pin 26V engaging a shoulder 27 of the said .apertured shoe plate. This plate is shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 and consis'ts of a thin vstrip of material, provided at one end with the aperture 24, andca-rryin'g over the inner face of the plate at each side,

along its sides shoe members 28 which eX- tendy'aroundthe ends of said shoe plate and being resiliently maintained in position relatively thereto by means of corresponding fiat spring members 29. These spring members are secured substantially at the'middle of each plate, and run along the sides thereof, having their free ends passing through slots 30 over u turned ends of the shoe members 28. ln tins manner, the shoes are maintained under a constant and predetermined tension; and when the apertured plate 23 is in position, as shown in, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, these shoes bear yieldingly against the film 32, holding the same to the face plate 20. Shoes 28, furthermore, are provided with pairs of slots 33 and. 3l, symmetrically disposed with reference te the re versal of said plate 23, and arel designed to permit the film-engaging means, hereinafter described, to pass t erethrou h.

'lhe apertured plate and s ees ma be variously arranged, for example, as s own in Fig. 5, the shoes 35 may be in one piece of resilient material which is brought around the ends of plate 36 and secured to the back of same lby means of a screw 37. Unas shown in Fig. 6, the two shoes may move as a unit by providing connecting members 38 at the ends of same. Frpm the foregoing, it will, be appreciated that the film 32 may be fed in the usual manner from a feed sprocket 40, providing a loop 41, to the face plate 2O and between same and the resilient shoes 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. lt is to be understood, also, that the shoe plate or removable gate is not restricted to the construction shown and described, but may consist of the usual hinged type correspondingly modified.

The invention herein has to domore particularly with the means for advancing the film past the aperture 21 of the face plate 20 in manner to provide the necessary intermittent exposure of same before the said aper ture. When it is desired to use the device as a camera or printer, plate 23 may be reversed and present the opaque portion thereof before the aperture 21, thus preventing access of li ht to the interior of the inclosing cabinet t rough the last-named aperture. The particular manner of effecting the intermittent movement of the film 32 past the aper ture 21 is directly accomplished through the rotation of a cam film-engaging member 50, which is mounted to rotate with a shaft 51 whose rotation is effected through intermediate mechanism 52, manually through the operation of a crank or handle 53, or in any other convenient manner to obtain the desired speed. V

The film-engaging means may consist of various forms of toothed members, for example, as indicated in Fi .2 and 7 to 11, consistingofA cam disks 54 wit a plurality, for example three, sprocket teeth 55 designed to engpge the perforations 56 of film 32. l arious m ificareirme tions in the character of the film-engaging means maybe employed, depending upon `the particular style of film to be advanced, as for example, in Fig. 12, wherein is shown a cam disk 57 with but a single tooth 58. In Fig. 13, the tooth 59 is of elongated character and is located in the middle of a cam drum 60, being designed to engage film having single perforations located between the pictures and midway of the film strip. Fig. 14 illustrates, in horizontal section, a particular form of tooth 61, having partly flattened instead of rounded face, the perforations for the filmemployed with this tooth being correspondingly formed. It is, therefore, to be understood that Ido not limit.

myself to the particular ,character of tooth or number of teeth or number of series of teeth employed. The cam disks, in any. event, are provided with a cam portion 62, or with portions 62 and 63 where the arrangement is such that the film may be run in either direction, said cam portions being se arranged with reference to the teeth on the drum that engagement will be had with the shoes 28 prior to the engagement of the teeth with the perforations of the film 32,

and also prior to their disengagement therefrom. vThis action will be more clearly understood with reference to Figs. 8 to 11,

wherein the same is diagrammatically set.

forth. Fig. 8 represents the beginning of the action in which the cam portion 62, due to the interposition of the film 32, presses the shoes 28 away from the face plate and from their normal position indicated in the dotted lines, so that when the first of the teeth 55 approaches the film 32 for engagement with vare totally disengaged, the film is at rest and before the aperture 21 in position for exposure, printing or projecting, and continues in this position until cam 62 again moves out the film and shoe, and thet'orward tooth of the series enters into engagement with the corresponding perforationof the film. During this entire period of rest, the surface of "thecam disk 54 clears the film, Fig. 11. In

the event of no lfilm being in position, the slots 34 permit the high ortions and teeth of the disks to project t rough the shoes; and it isonly when a film intervenes that the same are moved out of their normal positions to the positions indicated in Figs. 8 and 10.`

It is to be understood, of course, 'that the aci lorder to prevent access of light through slots 33 or 34 of the 'shoes 2S, as Well as to serve as a protective cover for the film-advancing member. A cover (i6 may, also, vbe fitted over the intermediate mechanism 52 to shut out any light'entering through slot 67 through which this intermediate mechanism passes.

I claim:

1.l Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprising: a continuously rotating element carrying means to intermittently engagethe perforations of said strip; Van apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; resilient means to retain the strip against said support, -said means being designed to permit the engaging element to pass therethrough, and yieldable under contact with same through the interposition of the strip.

2.Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprising: a continuously rotating element embodying a cam portion associated With engaging means to intermittently engage the perforation of said strip; an apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; an apertured plate to retain the strip against said support, said plate carrying means designed to permit the engaging element to pass therethrough, and yieldable under contact with same through the interposition 'of the strip.

3. Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprisingra continuously rotating Aelement embodying a cam portion associated With engaging means to .intermittently engage the perforation of said .strip i; an apertured support in vrelation to which said strip is designed to move; a removable apertured plate to retain the strip against said support, said platejcarrying means designed to I permit the engaging element to pass therethrough, and yieldable under contact with same through the interpositionof the strip.

4. Advancing mechanismfo'r perforated strips, comprising: a continuously rotating element embodying a cam -portion associated With engaging means to intermittently engage the perforation of said strip; an apertured'support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; an apertured plate to -retaifi the strip against said support andincliiding meansprovided with slots through which the engaging element may pass, said means. being yieldable under contact with the engaging element through the interposition of the strip.

5. Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprising: acontinuously rotating element embodying a cam portion associated With engaging means to intermittently engage the perforation of said strip; an apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; aremovable apertured plate to retain the strip against said support and including means provided with oppositely disposed slots through which the engaging element may pass, said means being yieldable under contact with the engaging element through theinterposition of the strip.

6. Advancing mechanism forperforated Strips, comprising: a continuously rotating velement embodyinga cam portion associated with engaging means .to intermittently engage the perforation of saidl strip; an

- apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; a removable apertured plate to retain the strip ,against said support and including resilient means provided With oppositely disposed slots through which the engaging element may pass, said resilient means being yieldable under contact with the engaging element through the interposition of the strip.

7. Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprisingia continuously rotating element carrying means to intermittently engage the perforations of said strip; an

apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; a reversible and removable apertured plate to retain the strip against said support and including resilient means having two sets of oppositely disposed slots through which the engaging element may pass, said resilient means being yieldable under contact with the engaging element through the interposition of thc strip.

8. Advancin mechanism for perforated strips, comprisingzarotatable element provided With means to engage the perforations of said strip; an apertured support in relation to which said strip is designed to move; a reversible and removable apertured plate to retain the strip' against said support and'. including resilient means lhaving two sets of oppositely disposed slots, the said plate being provided With an aperture positioned relatively to the,one pair 'of slots, and with an opaque portion to obstruct the passage of light when' the plate is reversed.

9. Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, com rising: a continuously@` rotating element em odying a'cam portion associated with enga-ging means to intermittently engage the perforation of said strip (an apertured supporti in relation to which said striR y through which the is designed to move; a plate to retain the strip against said. support and including yielding shoe members resilientl carried by said plate and extending over the ends of same, said shoe members being provided with slots engaging element may pass. 10. Advancing mechanism for 'perforated strips, comprising: a rotatable element provided with means to engage the perforations of said strip; an apertured su'pport in relation to which said strip is designed to move;

a removable and reversible apertured plate to etain the strip against said support and inpluding yielding shoe members resiliently eaiied by said plate' and extending oyer `the ends of same, said shoe members being provided with oppositely disposed slots lvthrough which the engaging element may.

11'." Advancing mechanism for perforated I strips, comprising: a rotatable element embodying a toothed and cam member, the toothed portionl of which is adapted to engage the perforations ofthe said stripto advance the latter, and the cam portion to move the strip substantially at right anglee/to its 'direction of advance.

12. Advancing'mechanism for perforated strips, comprising: a rotatable element .emibodying e. toothed portion and cam portions between which mid toothed portion is located, the toothed portion being adapted to engage'the pcrforations of the said strip' to advance the latter, and the'cam portionsl to move thestrip substantially at right angles to its vdirection.of'arlvanca 4 13. Advancing mechanism for perforated strips, comprising: a rotatable element having two cam portions thereon and an inter; mediate toothed' portion, the first cam portion being adapted to move the strip substantially at right angles to its direction of i advance just prior to the engagement of the toothed portion with the perforations of said strip, and the second cam portion being adapted yto move said stripsubstantially at4 right angles to its direction of advance just prior to the disengagement of the toothed portion from ythe perforations of said strip.

14'. In a motion picture apparatus: a constantly rotatable feed sprocket for a perforated strip; a support provided with an .7

'neiaaaa aperture in relation to which said strip is desi ed to move; means to retain the strip against said support; and means to intermittently advance the strip past the aperture, and comprising a rotatable element embod ing a toothed portion and cam portions etween which said toothed portion is located, the toothed portion being adapted to engagevthe perfonationsof said stri-p .to advance the latter, and the cam portions to move the strip substantially at right an# gles to its direction of advance.

15. 1n a motion picture apparatus: means l to continuously feed forward a perforated strip; an apertured plate, and means to position the strip with reference thereto and provide a loop portion in the strip; and advancing means to rstforce the strip out-- wardly substantially at right angles to its direction of advance, thenengage anddraw the same past the aperture of said plate,

'and finally again force said strip outwardly' substantially of advance.

16. llhe method of intermittently advancing a perforated strip, which consists in at right angles to its direction continuously feeding forward said strip, po-

sitioning the same with reference to a support thereby providing a loop portion, and advancing thesame with reference to said support by first forcing the strip outwardly substantially at right angles to its direction.

of advance, and then engaging and'drawingthe same past said support.

17. The method of intermittently advancing a perforated strip, which consists in continuously feeding forward said strip, posithe same with reference -to a sup- -day of July, A. D. 1918.

.man ann nov. 

